Mail-delivering apparatus.



J. H. TUDOR.

MAIL DELIVEBING ABPARATUS.

APPLIUATION H LBD JAN. 9, 1909.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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` :APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1909. 914,899.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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J. H. TUDOR.

MAIL DELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 9,'1909.

914,899. I Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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UNTTED STATES JAMES H. TUDOR, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO L. M. MOORE,

PATENT FFTCE.

OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

MAIL-DELIVERING- APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. Timon, a citizen of the YUnited States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Delivering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in mail delivering apparatus, and the object is to provide means for discharging mail from a moving train. A receptacle is provided on the car, the bottom of which is opened by a tripping mechanism, which is actuated by coming in contact with an obstruction which is provided for releasing it.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings-l`igure 1 is a View in side elevation showing my invention applied to a car and certain parts of the car bro ren away to disclose certain parts of the mechanism; Fig. 2 is an: enlarged side elevation partly in section of a portion of the car; Fig. 3 is a detail of the tripping arm and cooperating parts Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the tri ping arm and plate and E ig. 5 is an enlarge cross section on the line 5, 5 of Fig. 4.

A, represents a portion of a car which is provided with an opening through the floor thereof and along the side of the car, and beneath this opening is a metal box 2, which is constructed in any suitable manner and is provided with a hinged bottom consisting of two swinging doors 3, 3 which are adapted to swing from the sides of the box toward the middle.

A shaft 4 is supported from the body of the car and along the front of the box 2, and is provided with winding drums 5, 5. Arms 6 are connected to the doors 3 at each end of the box and connected to the arms are chains or ropes 7, 7, which are adapted to pass around pulleys 8, 8 on the ends of the box to the winding drums 5, 5. A pulley 9 is journaled to the shaft 4, and connected to the pulley is a chain or rope 10, which passes around a grooved wheel 11 mounted on one Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 9, 1909.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Serial No. 471,509.

side of the car. A lever 12 is connected to the wheel 11 for rotating it to cause the shaft 4 to rotate for Winding up the chains upon the drums 5, 5 for closing the bottom of the box. A ratchet wheel 13 is mounted on the shaft 4, and a pawl 14 pivoted on one end of the box is adapted to engage the ratchet wheel for holding the shaft against rotation and retaining the bottom of the box in closed position. A lever 15 is pivoted to one side of the car and connecting the lever and pawl is a chain 16. A chain 17 connects the free end of the lever 15 extending upwardly over a pulley 18 j ournaled in a frame 20 on the wall or side of the car. An opening is formed through the frame of the car through which the frame 20 extends, and pivotally mounted l upon the frame is a plate 21.

Pivotally mounted upon the plate is a trip arm 19. A yoke 22 is pivotally connected to the trip arm 19, and connected to the yoke is the chain or cable 17. The cable or chain after passing over the pulley 18 passes between rollers 23 mounted in the frame 2O bcfore it is connected to the yoke 22. This connection of the trip arm permits of the pawl being raised when the arm is struck, causing it to swing upon the frame 20 carrying the yoke 22, which draws the chain 17 upward, causing the pawl to be raised from engagement with the ratchet wheel 13 through the lever 15 and chain 16. As the trip arm is swung rearward to the moving train and is drawn out of contact with the dog 27 pivoted to the frame or side of the car, which dogs are adapted to engage the inner end of the arm when in upright position, it will swing downwardly alongside the car, due to its pivotal connection with the plate 21, and the yoke 22 will return to its normal position allowing the pawl to be released. When the trip arm 19 is actuated causing the pawl to be drawn from engagement with the ratchet wheel 13 the shaft 4 will revolve due to the weight of the doors 3 and the mail sacks resting thereupon, causing them to swing downward and discharge the contents of the box, or the mail sacks, l into a receptacle C provided for their recepf tion alongside the track.

An upright or frame 2S is connected to a post 29 of the mail crane, which is placed alongside the track in the usual manner and is adapted to come in contact with the trip crank` arm 33 isconnected to'- the catchler arm, and connected to the-c1ankarrnA is the`v` rod 30. As the operator places the catcher arm in position to catch the saekfrom the crane along the track, the rod '30 is actu atedl through the crank arm 33, which in turn rotates the shaft 25,v causingthe lever 26 to raise the trip arm 19 and bring Vit into position to be operated by the uprightor frame.

28. Another means for settingthetrip arm in position would be by havinga chain or cable 34 connected to the lever 26 `and p,ass-

ing between suitable pulleys to a 1ever2 6/ in the car, where the mail clerk couldpull upon:

the chain causingthe lever 4,to be operated for raising the trip arm and bring `it into its proper position.

A swinging door 35 is hinged to one side of: the car and is connected to weights 36 by. ropes 37, whereby it is raised andlow'ered?. The door is adapted to closethe openingin `combination with-a car, of ay box mounted the bottom of the car.

More or less slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement ofthe several?.

parts described'without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, .and hence 1 do not wish to be limited lto the exact con-,`

struction herein setforth, but

Having fully described my invention, what I'claim as new and desire to secure by- Letters Patent is:

1. 1n an apparatus for delivering mail', .the f mounted on the car, doors-on the box, means forclosing the doors of the box, a trip arm,

means connecting the trip arm and doors and means forv oscillating. thev trip arm whereby the doors are opened.

3. In an apparatus for deli-vering mail, the combination with aA car, of a 'delivery box mounted on'the car, doors on the box, a.. shaft, means connecting the shaft and doors, means for operating .the shaft-for closing .the doors, atrip arm, means connectingthe trip.v arm and vshaft and means foroperating` theA trip arm whereby the shaft isoperated- Acatcher'arm 3 1 thereby releasing the doors and permittingl them to open.

4. In :an apparatusfor delivering mail, the combination withv a car, of'a delivery box Vmounted thereon, doors on the box, a trip arm, means connecting the trlp'arm and doors-whereby the doors are actuated upon Athe operation of the trip arm, and means for settingrthe'trip arm in position to be operated.

5." InV an apparatus for delivering mail, the combinationlwitha car, of a delivery box mounted thereon, doors on the box, a trip arm pivotally mounted on the car, means connecting the trip arm and doors and means foroperating'the arm whereby the. doors are opened?V 6. In an apparatus for delivering mail, the.

combinationwitha car, of a delivery box mounted onrthe car, .doors on the box, a

frame, a trip arm pivotally mounted on theV frame, asecondary frame foroperating the arm, and means connecting the trip arm and doors. Y

7 l In 'an apparatus fordelivering mail, the

vcombination.with a car, ofaibox, doors on the'box, a frame, a trip arm mounted on the frame. andhaving a pivotal .and oscillatingl movement, and lmeans connectingithe doors jand iarm.

8. .In an. apparatus for delivering mail, the

means. connecting the yoke with4 the pawly for releasing the shaft and permitting the doors to open upon the operation of the tripv arm.

9. ln an apparatus for delivering mail, the combination with a car, of a boxvmounted thereon, doors on thebox, atrip arm pivotally` mounted onthe car, Va yokey pivotally connected to the trip arm, means connecting the yoke. and doors, and'means adapted to engageV the. trip arm forholdingit in operative.. position.

10..1n.an apparatus for delivering mail, the combination with a car, of a box mounted `thereon havingdoors, a trip arm, means connectingthe trip farm and doors, a catcher arm, a lever adapted to engage the trip arm, means connecting the lever and catcher arm whereby the trip. arm is broughtto operative position when thecatcher arm is brought into position to catch the mail sacks.

11. .Inzanapparatus for delivering mail, the combination with a car, of a box, doors on the box, a 4trip arm, means connecting the trip arm and doors, a dog for holding the arm 1n position and means for operating the arm whereby the doors are opened.

whereby it is oseillated releasing it from en- If) gagenient with the dog and thereby permit* ting the doors to open.

l2. In an apparatus for delivering mail, l In testimony whereof I allix my signature. the combination with a oar, of a boX, doors i in the presence of two witnesses.

on the boX7 a pivotal and oscillating trip J. H. TUDGR. arm, a dog for holding the arm in operative Witnesses: position, means connecting the arm and HOWARD GUNN,

doors, and means for operating the arIn[ VWM. O. LEE.

ions in Letters Patent No. 914,899.

Correct It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 914,899, granted March 9, 1909, upon the application of James H. Tudor, of Lexington, Kentucky, for an improvement in Mail-Delivery Apparatus, errors appear in the printed specication requiring'correction, as follows: In line 4:7, page 2, the Word machine should read mechanism., and in line 79, same page, the Word L operating should read oscillating; and that the said Letters Patent should be 'read with these corrections therein that the same may conform' to the record of the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of April, A. D., 1909.

[SEAL] C. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

